Standings

Six Nations

Within the first quarter-hour, the result seemed a foregone conclusion, after quick tries for Henshaw and Murray - and Ireland perhaps took their foot off the pedal late on to let Italy get a sniff of a bonus point. Still, the hosts take five and go top of the NatWest 6 Nations table - for now - as they turn their attention to Wales in a fortnight. The Azzurri meanwhile will travel to France, hoping to find their first points of the campaign; until then however, thank you for joining us and have a good weekend!

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Italy have one more chance to find a bonus point, only for Ruzzi to knock on in the tackle - and the referee blows for full-time! Italy sparked a late surge looking for a point, but in the end, Ireland's imperious form saw them run out 56-19 winners at the Aviva Stadium in a scintillating NatWest 6 Nations victory!

80'+2''

Bellini looks like he's away, going 60 metres down the right wing with an interception as he tries to find that bonus point - and out of nowhere, Earls tears across the pitch to bring him down and cut him off.

80''

Larmour aims for a try on debut as he cuts inside two men - and a Minozzi ankle-tap does just enough to bring him down short of the line as Ireland press for one more score.

79''

Conversion

Allan pulls the conversion wide to the left; the first miss by either side today.

77''

TRY: Ireland 56-19 Italy. Great hands from Benvenuti and Hayward out wide to the left find Minozzi and the fullback steals in round Larmour at the left corner. The visitors are only another try away from a bonus point...

75''

A penalty to Italy now, as Ireland play foul at the ruck, and the visitors get the line-out five metres out on the right.

73''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 56-14 Italy. Carbery curls the extras over from out wide to keep his side's record with the boot perfect today.

71''

Try

TRY: Ireland 54-14 Italy. What an effort from Stockdale! The winger speeds off down the left wing, curves back inside, then goes back out wide as he wrongfoots Hayward and gets his second score.

70''

Cian Healy is on for Jack McGrath in the front row for Ireland.

68''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 49-14 Italy. Allan adds the extras, from 20m out slightly to the left.

67''

Try

TRY: Ireland 49-12 Italy. It's try number two for the visitors, as the referee awards Gori the score.

66''

Are Italy in with a second score here? Minozzi breaks beautifully down the left and puts Parisse away, who throws a wild pass inside for Gori to collect and scramble over as Kearney is caught out. The referee will send it upstairs...

66''

Hayward drills an effort down the left wing, looking for Gori to chase; Larmour collects and sweeps his side back into midfield.

63''

Captain Rory Best is off for the hosts and Sean Cronin takes his place.

62''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 49-7 Italy. Carbery adds the extras again from in front of the posts, to leave the hosts a point shy of the half-century.

61''

Try

TRY: Ireland 47-7 Italy. Stockdale resumes normal service and gets himself on the scoresheet now off the back of a brilliant Toner pass, following a strong maul from a line-out wide on the left.

60''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 42-7 Italy. Allan adds the extras to his own score and the visitors have some consolation for what has been a tough game.

58''

Federico Ruzzi and Edoardi Gori are on for Negri and Marcello Violi as we await this conversion attempt from Italy...

57''

Try

TRY: Ireland 42-5 Italy. The Azzurri get one back! It's a lovely break from Tommaso Castello round Dan Leavy, and a wonderful offload to Allan puts the fly-half over from 20m out on the right. A well-worked score for Italy.

56''

Tiziano Pasquali and Jayden Hayward are on for Boni and Ferrari now, as Italy make the changes.

55''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 42-0 Italy. Carbery takes on kicking duties now and from bang in front, slots over the extras.

54''

Try

TRY: Ireland 40-0 Italy. Captain Best is on the scoresheet for the hosts! Toner collects the line-out and Ireland drive the maul through near the posts, allowing the hooker to scramble over in the middle for try number six.

53''

Carbery immediately pokes a kick crossfield from the line-out to the right corner, looking for Larmour; Minozzi sweeps in to put it out and Ireland will get the ball back in midfield.

52''

All change in the halves for the hosts as they put this penalty away for a line-out; Kieran Marmion and Joey Carbery are on for Murray and Sexton

51''

A penalty to Ireland now as Stockdale has a second effort on the left wing and Dean Budd goes over him in the tackle.

50''

Stockdale gets a pass boomed out wide to him by Sexton before bringing it back inside. Ireland try to find a way through with the powerplay.

49''

Maxime Mbanda and Leonardo Ghiraldini replace Steyn and Luca Bigi for Italy, as Ireland get a scrum only 10m out from the visitors' line following the referee getting in the way of a Rob Kearney move down the right that looked set to be a sixth try.

47''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 35-0 Italy. Sexton adds the extras from bang in front, as Henshaw has his elbow wrapped in a sling. The centre has played his part here today and Jordan Larmour takes his place on the pitch for what is the Leinster man's maiden test cap.

45''

Try

TRY: Ireland 33-0 Italy. Henshaw scoops up a loose pass from Parisse as the Italian captain tries a wraparound with Allan and goes 40 metres down the left to get his second - but the centre has seemingly injured himself in the process, with medical attention taking place under the posts.

44''

Roux spills a ball sent by Stockdale, heading towards his feet, and Italy get a scrum on halfway.

42''

We're back underway in Dublin as Sexton puts a short kick-off to the left for CJ Stander; the blindside flanker knocks on and Italy punt long to relieve further pressure. The Ireland man is one of two changes, replacing Conan; Quinn Roux also replaces Iain Henderson.

41''

Ireland already have the bonus point at the Aviva Stadium - and unless Italy can produce a monster upset, Joe Schmidt's side look to be on their way to a win as well. The hosts have been in superb form, with four tries from Henshaw, Murray, Aki and Earls, plus a perfect record with the boot for Jonathan Sexton. Conor O'Shea's men have a lot of work to do if they hope to stay in this; at half-time, it's Ireland 28-0 Italy.

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Murray pulls it out of the scrum and pops it into touch for the half-time whistle, to cap off what has been a sterling 40 minutes from the hosts in Dublin.

40'''

Italy earn a penalty for a high shot after some strong phase work and they get the line-out only five metres away from the Ireland in-goal area - only for Steyn to drop it as he goes up, gifting the hosts a scrum instead.

39''

Andrea Lovotti is on for Quaglio as the Italian prop is withdrawn for a head injury assessment.

38''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 28-0 Italy. Sexton is kicking like a dream today; he adds his fourth conversion from as many attempts with another touchline effort slotted over.

37''

Try

TRY: Ireland 26-0 Italy. It's the bonus point try for the hosts - and inside the first half, to boot! Aki throws a dummy and tears through a gap on the right before feeding Earls on his wing, who strolls in at the corner. Ireland are in imperious form.

35''

Stockdale thinks he's away down the left wing but Tommaso Benvenuti does enough on halfway to put him into touch for a line-out.

34''

A stoppage in play now as Nicola Quaglio is headbutted in the jaw during a tackle by fellow Italian Zanni. The prop is treated by medical staff before the game continues with an Ireland scrum 20m away from their own line.

33''

Sexton grubbers into the right corner of the in-goal area on the fourth phase, looking for Earls; Bellini manages to hold the winger off and the ball skips dead for a Italy restart. Ireland will rue not adding to their try haul there.

31''

It's a fourth penalty in a row now, with Alessandro Zanni called out for lifting above the head in the tackle. Surely the pressure has to tell for Ireland...

30''

A third Ireland penalty in a row as Italian captain Sergio Parisse is ruled to have come off his feet. The hosts take the line-out five metres out on the right.

29''

Henshaw is almost through the gap in midfield and looks sure to get his second after a Sexton pass; Braam Steyn manages to get to him in time to bring him down, only to concede a penalty for offside.

27''

Italy undo their good work now, as Ireland get a penalty for dangerous play by the attackers; Sexton's penalty gives the hosts the lineout 20m out on the right.

26''

Sebastian Negri looks to spark his side into life with a little run down the right - and he earns a scrum too on halfway as Ireland end up botching an interception.

24''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 21-0 Italy. Sexton slots another over to bring up the 20-point mark in almost as many minutes; Ireland are truly on the front foot now.

22''

Try

TRY: Ireland 19-0 Italy. Aki gets the third try for the hosts, after Toner's line-out collection allows Best and Murray to direct the maul to the line. The centre gets it at the fourth phase and burrows low to sneak through the defence for the score.

21''

Stockdale grubbers the ball through to the left corner and traps Minozzi who punts out for a line-out only 10m out from the Italian line.

20''

A great ankle tap from Simone Ferrari manages to stop Earls from slipping through a gap on halfway; Ireland subsequently earn a scrum as an attempted Italian pick-up off a spill from Aki is fumbled.

19''

Italy try to make something down the left wing now, with Boni breaking away and trying to slip around Earls; instead, the Ireland man bundles him into touch and earns a line-out.

17''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 14-0 Italy. It's a touchline attempt to add the extras this time round, but Sexton makes no mistake and slots it over with a lovely curl. What a start for the hosts.

15''

Try

TRY: Ireland 12-0 Italy. Two tries in the space of three minutes for Ireland, as Conor Murray harks down the left wing, following on from Conan and Best managing to smuggle field possession off a crossfield kick from the scrum-half.

14''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Ireland 7-0 Italy. It's a simple kick for Sexton and he slots the extras over neatly.

12''

Try

TRY: Ireland 5-0 Italy. Henshaw opens the scoring for the hosts! The centre slips through a gap in the Italian back-line, just underneath the posts after Conan draws the defence to him from the scrum.

11''

O'Mahony claims the line-out cleanly and the hosts spread it wide to the left with speed. Stockdale almost gets in at the corner, followed by a second attack by Dan Leavy, who is held up on the line; Ireland get a scrum five metres away.

10''

Penalty to Ireland now, for Italy failing to release the attacker in the ruck. Sexton prods it into touch on the right and Ireland get the line-out 20m out.

9''

Italy's line-out doesn't quite come off and Best is able to scramble the ball into his possession to put Ireland just inside the opposition half.

8''

Ireland knock on from the first play after the scrum, with Bundee Aki the man responsible this time. Italy press downfield, but Jonathan Sexton clears the area after a Allan grubber with a punt wide to the left.

6''

A scrum to the hosts as Tommaso Boni knocks the ball on 40m out on the right for Italy, but Ireland have immediate concerns as Tadhg Furlong pulls up his pursuit of the ball in agony. The prop appears to have a hamstring issue - and Andrew Porter will take his place as he is helped from the field by medics.

4''

Ireland earn and win a line-out just inside the Italian half but Jack Conan knocks on after the ball is released from the maul; Mattia Bellini breaks down his left wing and gives the visitors some breathing space.

3''

Out on the right wing, Keith Earls doubles back with ball in hand as he avoids being dumped into touch; spreading it wide crossfield on halfway, he finds Jacob Stockdale who tries a chip over, only to find Matteo Minozzi instead.

2''

We're underway in Dublin as Tommaso Allan kicks off this NatWest 6 Nations clash under overcast skies in the Irish capital. The hosts go straight down the left wing through Robbie Henshaw and captain Rory Best as they look to lay down an early marker.

1''

The teams are out at the Aviva Stadium for the national anthems.

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Last time these two sides met, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in February 2017, CJ Stander scored a hat-trick in a mercurial Man of the Match performance against the Azzurri, becoming the first forward to achieve such a feat in the Championship since the turn of the millennium. He made more carries than any other player too last week, with 24; Sebastian Negri was his nearest competitor with 18.

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Italy have just two wins in 45 away games in the Championship, with both of those victories coming at Murrayfield against Scotland. They have however crossed for at least two tries in six of their last seven games on the road, a significant improvement over their previous scoresheet form. One statistic stands against them; they have never won on the second weekend of a campaign, in 18 previous attempts.

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Both captains hit milestones today; Italy’s Sergio Parisse makes his 131st Test appearance, lifting him into fifth on the all-time list of caps, just ahead of Ronan O’Gara. As for Rory Best, his start today takes him to 108 appearances for his country – and makes him Ireland’s joint most capped forward in history too.

Both sides have made changes following on from last week, with Ireland making four alterations in the pack. Jack McGrath, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan all make the starting line-up, whilst Josh van der Flier is out with a knee injury and James Ryan misses the cut completely. As for Italy, they too make three starting changes; Braam Steyn, Nicola Quaglio and Luca Bigi will all pull on the jersey at the Aviva Stadium.

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Ireland’s recent form against Italy bodes well for Schmidt; in their last four Championship encounters, they have posted an average winning margin of 40 points. They also dominated with ball-in-hand last week; they had 26 minutes of possession against France, the most they have had in any Test match since achieving the same figure against Italy in 2014, in a 46-7 win.

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Conor O’Shea’s side face a formidable challenge in Dublin today; their hosts have not lost at home in the Championship since 2013, when England beat them 12-6. Having gone 11 games unbeaten in their own backyard since, Ireland will look to inflict a 14th consecutive defeat on Italy after the Azzurri’s late collapse against England last week; such a result would tie the visitors’ own worst winless streak, set between 2000 and 2002.

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Hello and welcome, from around the world, to the second weekend of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations, as Ireland host Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Joe Schmidt’s men snatched a late win from the jaws of defeat against France last week, thanks to a stunning Jonathan Sexton drop-goal; against an Azzurri side they have only lost once to in Championship history, can they keep up their hunt for a first Grand Slam since 2009?

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Live Match Centre – Ireland v Italy

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